The foundations of Islamic global philosophy are the teachings of Taqdeer and Naseeb. They establish the vision of a Muslim regarding life’s triumphs and failures, giving him a profound sense of purpose, consolation, and accountability. An understanding of the meaning of Taqdeer and allied terms is essential for any person eager to be able to understand and appreciate the Islamic world philosophy of life.
This guide will delve into the web of fate in Islam. The definitions of Taqdeer in Urdu, English, Bengali, and other languages will be examined, along with the various Islamic fates and the nuances of terms like Taqdeer and Naseeb, Qadr and Taqdeer, and Taqdeer and Tadbeer. We will also add inspirational Taqdeer Naseeb quotes in Urdu to shed more light on these themes.
Deciphering Meaning: What is Taqdeer?
Taqdeer Meaning in English and Etymology
The word Taqdeer (تَقْدِیر) has etymological origins in the root of the “q-d-r” (ق-د-ر) word of the Arabic language, which carries the implications of measuring, gauging, valuing, ordaining, and empowering. The English counterpart of Taqdeer would therefore best be constituted as “Divine Decree,” “Predestination,” “Preordainment,” or “the Measured Order” of all things.
Theologically, Taqdeer meaning in Islam has been established to be Allah’s divine wisdom and predestination of all that happened and would happen in the universe, the most gigantic cosmic happenings right down to the infinitesimal minute things of the life of every human being. It is the belief that Allah had knowledge, wrote down, willed, and created everything as per His final wisdom and knowledge.
Taqdeer Meaning in Urdu and Cultural Interpretation
The meaning of Taqdeer (تقدیر) in Urdu is a part of the language and culture. It is used most frequently along with the synonyms “Muqaddar” (مقدّر) and “Naseeb” (نصیب), which differ by slender threads only, which we shall observe subsequently.
Taqdeer in Urdu poetry, literature, and colloquial usage defines one’s predestined life. Phrases such as:
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“Taqdeer aasmaan se likhi nahi aati” (تقدیر آسمان سے لکھی نہیں آتی) – Destiny is not written from the sky (that what one does counts).
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“Taqdeer badal jaati hai” (تقدیر بدل جاتی ہے) – Destiny can change.
…reflect the dynamic nature of this concept in the cultural mindset.
Taqdeer Meaning in Other Languages
To make it easier for there to be a global understanding, here’s where the term is translated:
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Taqdeer meaning in Hindi: Like Urdu, it is written as तक़दीर and means भाग्य (Bhagya) or नसीब (Naseeb).
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Taqdeer meaning in Arabic: Its very name is Arabic (تَقْدِير). It pertains most closely to Qadr (قَدْر), decree, measure, or destiny.
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Taqdeer meaning in Bengali: It is also called তাকদীর (Tākdīr) and conveys the meaning of divine fate or destiny.
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Taqdeer meaning in Punjabi: It is called ਤਕਦੀਰ (Takadīra).
The Foundation of Belief: Islamic Theology’s Taqdeer (Iman bil-Qadr)
The sixth and last tenet of Islam is faith in Al-Qadr, or the Divine Decree. The Muslim’s belief will be incomplete if he does not accept Taqdeer as his belief. Taqdeer has four pillars, as defined by Islamic scholars:
1. Al-Ilm (Knowledge):
Belief that Allah’s knowledge is everlasting and complete. Before the creation of the universe, He had everything that existed, exists, and will always exist. Nothing occurs outside His knowledge.
2. Al-Kitabah (The Writing):
The belief that Allah wrote all things in a Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz). For as the Quran teaches:
“Do you not know that Allah knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record. Indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” (Quran 22:70)
3. Al-Mashi’ah (The Will):
The belief that nothing happens in the heavens or on earth except that which Allah wills. That which He wills, happens, and that which He does not will, does not happen.
4. Al-Khalq (The Creation):
The belief that everything, including men’s actions, is created by Allah. Man possesses the free will to do, but his power to act and causation of act is in submission to Allah’s power and will.
This whole interplay of divine will and man’s free will forms the foundation for understanding Taqdeer.
Taqdeer and Naseeb: The Delicacy in the Names
Though commonly sloppy usage as synonyms in informal usage, Taqdeer and Naseeb are not synonymous.
Definition of Naseeb in Islam and Urdu
Naseeb (نصیب) originates from the “n-s-b” root meaning apportionment, share, or allotment.
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Naseeb meaning in English: Portion, share, lot, or fortune.
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Naseeb meaning in Urdu: It usually implies one’s share of good or ill luck, especially when it comes to marriage, provisions (rizq), and material benefits. To illustrate, “uska naseeb achha hai” (his fortune is good) tends to imply his worldly prosperity or good luck.
Naseeb in Islam is the smaller portion of the complete Taqdeer. It is one’s portion in destiny that comprises their portion in the world.
The Key Difference
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Taqdeer is the whole, overall divine plan of the individual and the universe. It consists of all—good, evil, tests, favors, acts, and punishment.
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Naseeb is typically the predestined “share” or “portion” of worldly favors and happenings in that master plan.
Think of Taqdeer as the whole, complex script of a person’s life. Naseeb would be some definite subplots in that script, like the love subplot or the subplot for becoming rich.
Other Synonyms: Qadr, Kismat, and Bhagya
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Is Taqdeer Qadr a synonym? Yes, technically. Al-Qadr is God’s will, while Taqdeer is the act and execution of such will. In religious jargon, they are interchangeable and two sides of the same coin..
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The Arabic word “Kismat” (share, part) is the Persian/Urdu word for kismat.. It means very similar to Naseeb—share or portion of good fortune in life.
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Bhagya is a Sanskrit/Hindi term meaning fortune or destiny, much like Kismat and Naseeb used in the Indian subcontinent.
The Dynamic Nature of Destiny: Taqdeer and Tadbeer
teaches us that a very common myth has been that the belief in Taqdeer would result in fatalism and indolence. That’s where the lovely concept of Tadbeer (تَدْبِیر) enters the scene.
What is the meaning of Tadbeer?
Tadbeer is planning, management, strategy, or effort. It is his duty as a human being to use his free will in making reasonable decisions, managing his affairs, and working for his objectives.
The Difference Between Taqdeer and Tadbeer
This is a significant difference for a Muslim. A common Islamic saying aptly illustrates the analogy:
“Trust in Allah (Tawakkul), but tie your camel.”
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Taqdeer is Allah’s domain. It is the will and wisdom of Allah. It cannot be manipulated by man.
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Tadbeer is man’s domain. It is the planning, effort, and endeavour a man must make.
Islam establishes firmly that the ultimate result lies in the hand of Allah (Taqdeer), yet a man is guided and rewarded for his Tadbeer—his free will and volition. Your Taqdeer provides the possibility of the result of your Tadbeer.
For example, a student’s Tadbeer is to study hard, work hard, and sleep ahead of sitting for an exam. The result (the grade) is their share of their Taqdeer, and Allah has already ordained it. The student is being rewarded for trying even if they fail and passing or failing itself is a test—a gift to be thankful for or a test to be tried.
Faith in Taqdeer is not slackness; it is a call to do what is right in the belief that what happens is in the hands of a Merciful and Understanding God.
Types of Destiny in Islam
Islamic scholars, from prophetic hadiths, tend to describe two majestic types of decree:
1. Al-Qadha’ al-Muhkam (The Irrevocable Decree)
It is the ultimate, irreversible judgment on the Preserved Tablet. It is the ultimate destiny that will inevitably be reached.
2. Al-Qadha’ al-Mu’allaq (The Suspended Decree)
It is suspended or conditional judgment based on one’s deeds, dua, and choices. It is where dua and righteous acts come in because they are most probably going to alter one’s standing based on the superior divine plan.
One of the well-known hadith (Prophet’s saying) portrays it:
“Nothing can change the Divine Decree except du’a.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
This is to mean that Taqdeer is not a static, permanent prison. Dua is a way of a believer who takes action upon his or her destiny.
Motivational quotes from Taqdeer Naseeb in English and Urdu:
Urdu short stories and poetry are full of ideas about Taqdeer Naseeb. These are some of the deeper quotes of Taqdeer Naseeb in english and Urdu that encapsulate the meaning of these words:
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“Taqdeer unheen logon ke haath mein hoti hai, jo muskurane ki wajah dhund lete hain andheron mein bhi.”
(تقدیر انہیں لوگوں کے ہاتھ میں ہوتی ہے، جو مسکرانے کی وجہ ڈھونڈ لیتے ہیں اندھیروں میں بھی۔)
“Fate lies in the hands of those who tend to smile even in darkness.” -
“Naseeb mein jo likha hai who mil kar rehta hai, bas himmat na haarna insaan, kaam karta rehta hai.”
(نصیب میں جو لکھا ہے وہ مل کر رہتا ہے، بس ہمت نہ ہارنا انسان، کام کرتا رہتا ہے۔)
“What is written in one’s destiny will happen, one just shouldn’t lose hope and has to keep on working.” -
“Taqdeer aapke amal se badalti hai, aasman se nahi.”
(تقدیر آپ کے عمل سے بدلتی ہے، آسمان سے نہیں۔)
“Destiny changes by your actions, not from the sky.” -
“Khuda ne har insaan ki taqdeer mein ek naya safar likha hai, kisi ka naseeb aasmaan ki bulandiyon par hai to kisi ka zameen ki gehrayion mein.”
(خدا نے ہر انسان کی تقدیر میں ایک نیا سفر لکھا ہے، کسی کا نصیب آسمان کی بلندیوں پر ہے تو کسی کا زمین کی گہرائیوں میں۔)
“God has decreed a new course in the destiny of all human beings; one man’s fate is in heaven’s heaven, and another’s is in the limits of the world.”
The Practical Value of Belief in Taqdeer
The concept of Taqdeer is not a mental exercise; it is of great practical use to a believer’s mind and religious well-being:
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Relief from Regret and Fear: When a believer understands that things are now in God’s hands, he is free from the smothering weight of needing to be in control of everything. He can do his best and then trust the end-result in good conscience, knowing that it was ordained by a sovereign God.
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Sabr (Patience in time of Trouble): In times of trouble, illness, or loss, belief in Taqdeer is a very reassuring faith. The person realizes that the test is from Allah and that there must be some wisdom behind it, which perhaps may not have been achieved yet.
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Humility of Achievement: Rich, prosperous, or in good health, belief in Taqdeer keeps the vice of pride away. A Muslim is always aware of the fact that these blessings are Allah’s, his portion of predestined Naseeb, and not the result of his intelligence or cleverness.
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Inducement to Good Action: Knowing that they are going to be rewarded for their intention (Tadbeer) and their effort irrespective of whether they achieve success or not, a Muslim is encouraged to continue good deeds without giving up due to setbacks.
Conclusion: Adopting the Balance
The beliefs of Taqdeer, Naseeb, Qadr, and Tadbeer are logical and empowering. They offer explanations to the fundamental questions of free will, destiny, and the significance of happenings in life.
Taqdeer meaning is not a summons to resignation but a summons to equipoise living. It instructs a believer to put all their energies (Tadbeer) into the direction of righteous goals, but at the same time understand that the end result—wanted or unwanted—is the best possible manifestation of Allah’s boundless wisdom and kind beneficence (Taqdeer). It is the harmony of effort and belief, planning and submission, that forms a Muslim’s existence.
In order to actualize your Naseeha as your total Taqdeer, you can do your best in your position with an appreciative heart in times of ease and in adversity, be patient. That is the true essence of the precept of the Divine Decree.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the difference between Qadr and Taqdeer?
A: In Islamic philosophy, Taqdeer (Predestination) and Qadr (Divine Decree) are synonymous. They are used interchangeably usually to identify that Allah pre-ordained everything. Some authors explain that Al-Qadr is the general decree and Taqdeer is the specific implementation of the decree, but in all practicality, they are the same article of faith.
Q: Is Taqdeer changeable through dua?
A: Yes, according to Islamic doctrine, although the primary decree (Al-Qadha’ al-Muhkam) is predetermined, there is a suspended decree (Al-Qadha’ al-Mu’allaq). Genuine supplication (dua), benevolent deeds, and maintaining family bonds are the mechanisms by which Allah may alter the state of a human being and prevent evil, all in accordance with His final wisdom.
Q: How does human free will act as a complement to the principle of Taqdeer?
A: That is a deep theological question. To be short, Allah’s knowledge of man’s decisions is eternal. Man is free to decide and is responsible for his decisions. Allah doesn’t force man to decide for evil, rather decreres that he decides in volitional nature. So, a person decides his actions in liberty and is responsible for them, and they were observed and registered by Allah. The choice has been decided by Allah, but the act of choice is human. Q: Everything that occurs is ‘good’ as it is according to Taqdeer?
Q: Is everything that happens considered ‘good’ because it is part of Taqdeer?
A: Everything that happens is not necessarily “good” from the human perspective. Sins, tragedies, and evil things happen in our life. But faith in Taqdeer addresses the notion that a believer should have patience that in Allah’s will, there is wisdom in it even if one does not know. A tragedy might be trying patience, purifying a fault, or an intermediary to reach a higher spiritual level. A believer’s stance is to respond with patience and faith, goodness in every will.
Q: What is the difference between Kismat and Naseeb?
A: Kismat (Arabic ‘Qismah’) and Naseeb (Arabic ‘Nasib’) are near synonyms of Urdu/Hindi vocabulary. Both terms relate to one’s portion or share of fortune that they received in life, specifically worldly blessings like wealth, a spouse, or a vocation. There is no iota of religious distinction between the two words which are employed in popular usage.
Q: What is a Muslim’s response to good and bad things in Taqdeer?
A: The ordained reply is that of balance:
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For Good Fortune: Respond with gratitude (Shukr). Recognize the grace of Allah, understanding that it is in your Naseeb, and use it to His pleasure.
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For Misfortune: Answer patiently (Sabr). Understand that it is from Allah as trial and try to endure it with faith, understanding there is wisdom in it and reward for patients
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